Grayson.Something hits my face—soft, warm, wet. The sensation pulls me from sleep like a gentle slap, and I can hear someone breathing heavily above me, quick and panicked.I force my eyes open, blinking through the haze of medication and exhaustion. Rae is standing beside my bed, tears streaming down her face, her entire body shaking.I sit up immediately, ignoring the sharp spike of pain that shoots through my skull. "Sunshine?"She doesn't answer, just pulls me into a tight hug that nearly knocks me backward. Her body is trembling against mine, her breathing still uneven, and I let her hold on as long as she needs to.When she finally pulls back, I brush a strand of hair away from her face, my thumb catching a stray tear on her cheek."What's wrong?" I ask, studying her expression."Someone was watching you," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "When I came back to your room. A man in a lab coat, standing right next to your bed. He claimed to be a doctor, but..." She shake
Raelynn.Gray doesn't even wait for Mum's response. He walks directly to us, his movements sharp despite the bandages wrapped around his head, and takes my hand with a gentleness that contrasts sharply with the fury radiating from every line of his body.His eyes narrow as they focus on Mum's raised hand, still frozen in the air from her aborted slap. The look he gives her is absolutely venomous, like he's contemplating all the ways he could destroy her without breaking a sweat.Mum drops her hand quickly, clearing her throat and avoiding his gaze entirely. But Gray looks like he's about to say something that will end her, hospital setting be damned.He looks like he's about to destroy my mother with words alone."Gray," I whisper, tugging at his hand.The effect is immediate. His eyes soften as they shift to mine, the murderous rage melting into concern so gentle it makes my chest ache. He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze, his thumb brushing across my knuckles.I pull him aside, ba
Raelynn.Isabella turns away, the argument forgotten as she hurries into Grayson's room. Brandon, Edward, and Mum follow, leaving the door open like an invitation I'm too terrified to accept.Gray's sitting up in the hospital bed, and despite the bandages wrapped around his head, he manages a small smile as Isabella throws herself at him. She immediately transitions from relief to scolding—classic Isa—while Brandon settles into the bed beside Grayson, his worry evident.Gray doesn't pay much attention to Mum and Edward hovering by the foot of his bed. But when a nurse adjusts his position slightly, the sight of the IV line snaking into his arm makes me freeze in the doorway.All that blood. All that damage. Because of me."Aren't you going in?"I jump at Mr. Hale's quiet voice beside me, my heart hammering against my ribs.I shift my gaze from him back to the scene inside. Edward's talking now, his hands gesturing in that authoritative way that means Gray's getting a lecture. Gray dra
RaelynnEverything blurs.The screaming around the bonfire becomes a distant hum, faces melting into orange shadows that flicker and dance like demons coming for my soul. My knees hit the sand, but I can't feel the impact. All I can see is Gray's bloodied face burned into my eyes, those words on the wall echoing in my mind like a death sentence.‘IT'S YOUR FAULT, SARAH.’"Holy shit," Brandon breathes, snatching his phone back and immediately speed-dialing. "Mr. Hale! Mr. Hale, you need to get down here right now!"He’s pacing around like he’s trying not to crash out. Isabella’s still spaced out, eyes wide mouth open.Students are gathering around us, their voices filled with panic and confusion. Some people are whispering. Someone is shouting questions I can't process. The world tilts sideways, and I think I might throw up.Mr. Hale arrives in a sprint, still in his pajamas, his usually composed demeanor completely shattered. "What's going on? Brandon said—" He stops mid-sentence when
Raelynn.I can barely breathe.My eyes flutter open to find myself face-to-face with a sleeping Yara, who's somehow managed to sprawl across me like a human blanket. Her hand is flung carelessly across my neck, her leg pinning my stomach, and she's murmuring something about peaches in her sleep.Despite everything weighing on my chest, I can't help but snort softly. How hasn't she fallen off the bed yet?I carefully untangle myself from her limbs, trying not to wake her, but the moment my feet hit the floor, memories of last night crash over me like a tidal wave. The letters. The confession. Gray's promise that I'm not alone anymore.My heart pounds as I rush to the hiding spot where Gray concealed the bag of letters, my hands trembling as I check to make sure they're still there. When I find them exactly where we left them, relief floods through me so intensely my shoulders sag."You okay?"I spin around to find Yara watching me, her eyes half-lidded with sleep as she stretches and y
Chapter-Seventy-SevenGrayson."About what?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady even though unease is crawling up my spine. Both Isaac and Jace are staring at me like they're waiting for something, but I keep my expression unreadable.I take a seat on the bed beside Isaac, but leave enough distance between us.Isaac glances pointedly at Jace. "Can we have some privacy?"Jace raises an eyebrow. "It's five in the morning. Where exactly do you want me to go?""I don't care. Take a walk. Go bother someone else." Isaac's tone is sharp, impatient.Jace looks between us, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. For a moment, I think he might refuse. Then he shrugs and stands."Fine. But if I get written up for wandering the halls, I'm throwing both of you under the bus." He heads for the door, pausing just before he leaves. "Play nice, boys."The door clicks shut behind him, and suddenly the room feels suffocating.Isaac turns to face me fully, and there's something in his expression